Display device with a touch detection device

ABSTRACT

A display device with a touch detection device is provided and includes display elements that are surrounded by scan lines each extending in first direction and signal lines each extending in second direction crossing first direction; touch detection electrodes opposed to display elements; metal wires disposed on each of touch detection electrodes and extending along signal lines, wherein metal wires being overlapped with corresponding one of signal lines, wherein metal wires are disposed without crossing each other and spaced from each other.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/208,341, filed on Mar. 22, 2021, which application is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/826,407, filed onMar. 23, 2020, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,996,784 on May 4, 2021, whichapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/421,106, filed on May 23, 2019, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,613,698 onApr. 7, 2020, which application is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 16/058,565, filed on Aug. 8, 2018, issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,303,320 on May 28, 2019, which application is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/452,980, filed on Mar. 8, 2017, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 10,067,624 on Sep. 4, 2018, which application is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/064,909, filed onMar. 9, 2016, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,626,060 on Apr. 18, 2017, whichapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/082,826, filed on Nov. 18, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,304,639 onApr. 5, 2016, which application claims priority to Japanese PriorityPatent Application JP 2012-263803 filed in the Japan Patent Office onNov. 30, 2012, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device and an electronicapparatus capable of detecting an external proximity object, and moreparticularly, to a display device with a touch detection function and anelectronic apparatus capable of detecting an external proximity objectbased on a change in electrostatic capacitance.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, attention has been paid to touch detection devicesreferred to as so-called touch panels capable of detecting externalproximity objects. The touch panels are mounted on or integrated with adisplay device such as a liquid crystal display device and are used fordisplay devices with a touch detection function. The display deviceswith a touch detection function display various button images on thedisplay device, thereby enabling input of information with the touchpanel as a substitute for ordinary mechanical buttons. The displaydevices with a touch detection function, which include such touchpanels, do not require input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and akeypad, and the use of the display devices tends to increase in portableinformation devices such as cellular phones as well as in computers.

Types of a touch detection method include several types such as anoptical type, a resistive type, and a capacitance type. When touchdetection devices of the capacitance type are used in mobile devices andthe like, devices having relatively simple structures and low powerconsumption can be provided. For example, in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open Publication No. 2010-197576, a touch panel is disclosed inwhich a transparent electrode pattern is configured to be invisible.

Now, the display devices with a touch detection function are going to beformed to be thin, have a large screen, or have high precision, andaccordingly, low resistance of touch detection electrodes is required.For the touch detection electrodes, as the material of transparentelectrodes, a transparent conductive oxide such as indium tin oxide(ITO) is used. In order to configure the touch detection electrodes tohave low resistance, a metal material may be effectively used. However,since the metal material has a light shielding property higher than thatof a transparent conductive oxide such as ITO, there is a possibilitythat the transmittance may decrease, or the pattern of the touchdetection electrodes may be visually recognized.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a display device with atouch detection function and an electronic apparatus capable ofdetecting a touch while suppressing the electrical resistance and thevisual recognition of patterns even in a case where metal touchdetection electrodes are used.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, a display device with a touch detection functionincludes: a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arrangedin a matrix on a plane parallel to a surface of the substrate; aplurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to the surfaceof the substrate and supply pixel signals used for displaying an imageto the pixel electrodes; a display functional layer that performs animage displaying function based on the pixel signals; a drive electrodethat faces the plurality of the pixel electrodes in a vertical directionwith respect to the surface of the substrate and extends in a directionparallel to an extending direction of the signal lines; and a pluralityof touch detection electrodes that are metal wirings facing the driveelectrode in the vertical direction and extending in a directiondifferent from the extending direction of the signal lines. The metalwirings are arranged with a predetermined pitch so as to make capacitivecoupling with the drive electrode.

According to another aspect, a display device with a touch detectionfunction includes: a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes that arearranged in a matrix on a plane parallel to a surface of the substrate;a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals to the pixelelectrodes; a display functional layer that performs an image displayingfunction based on the pixel signals; a drive electrode that faces theplurality of the pixel electrodes in a vertical direction with respectto the surface of the substrate and extends in a direction differentfrom an extending direction of the signal lines; a plurality of touchdetection electrodes that are metal wirings facing the drive electrodein the vertical direction; and a color filter that faces the displayfunctional layer in the vertical direction and has a plurality of colorareas including at least one of a color area colored in red, a colorarea colored in green, and a color area colored in blue. The metalwirings are arranged with a predetermined pitch so as to make capacitivecoupling with the drive electrode. The plurality of touch detectionelectrodes cross over each color area of the color filter whileextending in an extending direction of the signal lines.

According to another aspect, a display device with a touch detectionfunction includes: a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes that arearranged in a matrix on a plane parallel to a surface of the substrate;a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals to the pixelelectrodes; a display functional layer that performs an image displayingfunction based on the pixel signals; a drive electrode that faces theplurality of the pixel electrodes in a vertical direction with respectto the surface of the substrate and extends in a direction differentfrom an extending direction of the signal lines; a plurality of touchdetection electrodes that face the drive electrode in the verticaldirection and are arranged with a predetermined pitch so as to makecapacitive coupling with the drive electrode; and a color filter thatfaces the display functional layer in the vertical direction and has aplurality of color areas including at least one of a color area coloredin red, a color area colored in green, and a color area colored in blue.The touch detection electrodes include a transparent electrode and ametal electrode. The transparent electrode extends along a specific oneof the color areas of the color filter. The metal electrode is dividedin the extending direction and is stacked on the transparent electrode.

According to another aspect, an electronic apparatus o includes any oneof the above-described display devices with a touch detection function.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of theconfiguration of a display device with a touch detection functionaccording to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates a state in which afinger is not in contact with or in proximity to a device forillustrating a basic principle of a touch detection method of acapacitance type;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates an example of anequivalent circuit in a state in which a finger is not in contact withor in proximity to a device as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates a state in which afinger is in contact with or in proximity to a device for illustrating abasic principle of the touch detection method of the capacitance type;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates an example of anequivalent circuit in a state in which a finger is in contact with or inproximity to a device as illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram that illustrates an example of waveforms of a drivesignal and a touch detection signal;

FIG. 7 is a diagram that illustrates an example of a module in which adisplay device with a touch detection function is mounted;

FIG. 8 is a diagram that illustrates an example of a module in which adisplay device with a touch detection function is mounted;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of the display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram that illustrates a pixel array of thedisplay unit with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view that illustrates an example of theconfiguration of drive electrodes and touch detection electrodes of thedisplay unit with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 12 is a timing waveform chart that illustrates an example of theoperation of the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the arrangement of touchdetection electrodes according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the arrangement of touchdetection electrodes of a comparative example;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter of the comparative example;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a first modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a second modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a third modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a fifth modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a sixth modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a seventh modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a modification of the second embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a modification of the third embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of touch detection electrodes according to afourth embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a first modification of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a second modification of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a diagram that illustrates an example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 34 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 35 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 36 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 37 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 38 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 39 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 40 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 41 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 42 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 43 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied; and

FIG. 44 is a diagram that illustrates another example of an electronicapparatus to which the display device with a touch detection functionaccording to the embodiment is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Modes for carrying out the present disclosure (embodiments) will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to the contents described in the followingembodiments. Each constituent element described below includes elementsthat can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, elements thatare substantially identical thereto. Further, the constituent elementsdescribed below may be appropriately combined. The description will bepresented in the following order.

1. Embodiments (Display Devices with Touch Detection Function)

-   -   1-1. First Embodiment    -   1-2. Second Embodiment    -   1-3. Third Embodiment    -   1-4. Fourth Embodiment    -   1-5. Other Embodiments and Modifications

2. Application Examples (Electronic Apparatuses)

-   -   Examples of Applications of Display devices with Touch Detection        Function According to Above Embodiment for Electric Apparatuses

3. Aspects of Present Disclosure

1. EMBODIMENTS 1-1. First Embodiment

-   -   1-1A. Configuration Example    -   Example of Whole Configuration

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of theconfiguration of a display device with a touch detection functionaccording to a first embodiment. A display device 1 with a touchdetection function includes: a display unit 10 with a touch detectionfunction; a control unit 11; a gate driver 12; a source driver 13; adrive electrode driver 14; and a touch detection unit 40. This displaydevice 1 with a touch detection function is a display device in whichthe display unit 10 with a touch detection function has a touchdetection function built therein. The display unit 10 with a touchdetection function is a so-called in-cell type device acquired byintegrating a liquid crystal display unit 20 using a liquid crystaldisplay element as a display element and a touch detection device 30 ofthe capacitance type. The display unit 10 with a touch detectionfunction may be a so-called on-cell type device acquired by mounting thetouch detection device 30 of the capacitance type on the liquid crystaldisplay unit 20 using a liquid crystal display element as a displayelement.

The liquid crystal display unit 20 performs a display by sequentiallyscanning each one horizontal line in accordance with a scanning signalVscan supplied from the gate driver 12, as will be described later. Thecontrol unit 11 supplies control signals to the gate driver 12, thesource driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and the touch detectionunit 40 based on a video signal Vdisp supplied from the outside andcontrols them so as to operate in a synchronized manner.

The gate driver 12 has a function for sequentially selecting onehorizontal line that is a target of display driving for the display unit10 with a touch detection function based on a control signal suppliedfrom the control unit 11.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that supplies a pixel signal Vpix toeach pixel Pix, which will be described later, of the display unit 10with a touch detection function based on a control signal supplied fromthe control unit 11.

The drive electrode driver 14 is a circuit that supplies a drive signalVcom to drive electrodes COML, which will be described later, of thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function based on a controlsignal supplied from the control unit 11.

Basic Principle of Touch Detection of Capacitance Type

The touch detection device 30 outputs a touch detection signal Vdet byoperating based on the basic principle of touch detection of thecapacitance type. The basic principle of touch detection in the displaydevice with a touch detection function according to the embodiment willbe described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 2 is an explanatorydiagram that illustrates a state in which a finger is not in contactwith or in proximity to a device for illustrating the basic principle ofa touch detection method of the capacitance type. FIG. 3 is anexplanatory diagram that illustrates an example of an equivalent circuitin a state in which a finger is not in contact with or in proximity to adevice as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram thatillustrates a state in which a finger is in contact with or in proximityto a device for illustrating the basic principle of the touch detectionmethod of the capacitance type. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram thatillustrates an example of an equivalent circuit in the state in which afinger is in contact with or in proximity to a device as illustrated inFIG. 4.

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a capacitor element C1includes: a pair of electrodes, which are arranged so as to face eachother with a dielectric D interposed therebetween; a drive electrode E1;and a touch detection electrode E2. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, thecapacitor element C1 has one end being connected to an AC signal source(drive signal source) S and the other end P being grounded through aresistor R and connected to a voltage detector (touch detection unit)DET.

When an AC rectangular wave Sg of a predetermined frequency (forexample, about several kHz to several hundreds of kHz) is applied to thedrive electrode E1 (one end of the capacitor element C1) from the ACsignal source S, an output waveform (touch detection signal Vdet)appears at the touch detection electrode E2 (the other end P of thecapacitor element C1). This AC rectangular wave Sg corresponds to atouch drive signal Vcomt to be described later.

In a state (non-contact state) where a finger is not in contact with (orin proximity to) a device, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a current I₀according to a capacitance value of the capacitor element C1 flows inaccordance with charging and discharging of the capacitor element C1.The waveform of the electric potential at the other end P of thecapacitor element C1 at this time, for example, is a waveform V₀illustrated in FIG. 6, and the voltage detector DET illustrated in FIG.3 detects the waveform V₀.

On the other hand, in a state (contact state) where a finger is incontact with (or in proximity to) a device, as illustrated in FIG. 4,electrostatic capacitance formed by the finger acts as a capacitorelement C2 so as to be added to the capacitor element C1. When theequivalent circuit illustrated in FIG. 5 is considered, the capacitorelement C2 is formed to be added in series with the capacitor elementC1. In this state, currents I₁ and I₂ flow through the capacitorelements C1 and C2 in accordance with charging and discharging of thecapacitor elements C1 and C2, respectively. The waveform of the electricpotential at the other end P of the capacitor element C1 at this time,for example, is a waveform V₁ illustrated in FIG. 6, and the voltagedetector DET detects the waveform V₁. At this time, the electricpotential at the other end P is voltage-divided electric potential thatis determined based on values of the currents I₁ and I₂ flowing throughthe capacitor elements C1 and C2. Accordingly, the waveform V₁ has avalue smaller than that of the waveform V₀ that is in the non-contactstate. The voltage detector DET compares a detected voltage with apredetermined threshold voltage Vth. When the detected voltage is thethreshold voltage or more, the voltage detector DET determines anon-contact state. On the other hand, when the detected voltage is lessthan the threshold voltage Vth, the voltage detector DET determines acontact state. Thus, touch detection can be made.

The touch detection device 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 performs touchdetection by sequentially scanning each one detection block inaccordance with a drive signal Vcom (the touch drive signal Vcomt to bedescribed later) supplied from the drive electrode driver 14.

The touch detection device 30 outputs a touch detection signal Vdet froma plurality of touch detection electrodes TDL to be described later foreach detection block, and thereby supplying the touch detection signalto the touch detection unit 40.

The touch detection unit 40 is a circuit that detects whether there is atouch (the above-described contact state) on the touch detection device30 based on the control signal supplied from the control unit 11 and thetouch detection signal Vdet supplied from the touch detection device 30of the display unit 10 with a touch detection function. When detectingthat there is a touch, the touch detection unit 40 acquires thecoordinates thereof or the like in a touch detection area. This touchdetection unit 40 includes an analog low pass filter (LPF) unit 42, anA/D conversion unit 43, a signal processing unit 44, a coordinateextracting unit 45, and a detection timing control unit 46.

The analog LPF unit 42 is a low pass filter that receives the touchdetection signal Vdet supplied from the touch detection device 30 as aninput, eliminates a high frequency component (noise component) includedin the touch detection signal Vdet, extracts a touch component, andoutputs the touch component. Between each input terminal of the analogLPF unit 42 and the ground, a resistor R used for providing DC electricpotential (0 V) is connected. Instead of this resistor R, for example, aswitch may be arranged and be configured to provide DC electricpotential (0 V) by being turned on at predetermined time.

The A/D conversion unit 43 is a circuit that samples an analog signaloutput from the analog LPF unit 42 at timing synchronized with the drivesignal Vcom to convert the analog signal into a digital signal.

The signal processing unit 44 includes a digital filter that eliminatesa frequency component (noise component) higher than the samplingfrequency of the touch drive signal Vcomt, which is included in theoutput signal of the A/D conversion unit 43, and extracts a touchcomponent. The signal processing unit 44 is a logic circuit that detectsa presence or no presence of a touch on the touch detection device 30based on the output signal of the A/D conversion unit 43.

The coordinate extracting unit 45 is a logic circuit that acquires touchpanel coordinates of a touch when the touch is detected by the signalprocessing unit 44. The detection timing control unit 46 performscontrol such that the A/D conversion unit 43, the signal processing unit44, and the coordinate extracting unit 45 operate to be synchronizedwith each other.

Module

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams that illustrate examples of a module in whicha display device with a touch detection function is mounted. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, when the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction is mounted in the module, the above-described drive electrodedriver 14 may be formed on a TFT substrate 21 of a glass substrate.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction includes: the display unit 10 with a touch detection function;the drive electrode driver 14; and a chip on glass (COG) 19A. Thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function is a so-called landscapetype (horizontally long). This display unit 10 with a touch detectionfunction schematically illustrates drive electrodes COML and touchdetection electrodes TDL formed to make an overhead crossing over thedrive electrode COML in a direction perpendicular to the surface of theTFT substrate to be described later. In other words, the driveelectrodes COML are formed in the direction of a shorter side of thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function, and the touch detectionelectrodes TDL are formed in the direction of a longer side of thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function. The outputs of thetouch detection electrodes TDL are provided on the shorter side of thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function and are connected to thetouch detection unit 40 mounted outside the module through a terminalportion T configured by a flexible substrate or the like. The driveelectrode driver 14 is formed on the TFT substrate 21 that is a glasssubstrate. The COG 19A is a chip mounted on the TFT substrate 21 and hascircuits such as the control unit 11, the gate driver 12, and the sourcedriver 13, which are illustrated in FIG. 4, necessary for a displayoperation built therein. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the display device 1with a touch detection function may have the drive electrode driver 14built in the chip on glass (COG).

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction, the module includes a COG 19B. In the COG 19B illustrated inFIG. 8, in addition to the above-described circuits necessary for thedisplay operation, the drive electrode driver 14 is further built in. Aswill be described later, the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction performs line sequential scanning of each one horizontal lineat the time of performing a display operation. In other words, thedisplay device 1 with a touch detection function performs displayscanning in parallel with the direction of the shorter side of thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function. On the other hand, thedisplay device 1 with a touch detection function sequentially applies adrive signal Vcom to the drive electrode COML at the time of performinga touch detection operation, thereby performing line sequential scanningfor each one detection line. In other words, the display device 1 with atouch detection function performs touch detection scanning in parallelwith the direction of the longer side of the display unit 10 with atouch detection function.

As described above, the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction, which is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, outputs the touchdetection signal Vdet from the shorter side of the display unit 10 witha touch detection function. This allows the display device 1 with atouch detection function to decrease the number of touch detectionelectrodes TDL, and accordingly, the routing of wirings for connectingthe touch detection electrodes to the touch detection unit 40 throughthe terminal portion T can be performed in an easy manner. According tothe display device 1 with a touch detection function illustrated in FIG.8, the drive electrode driver 14 is built in the COG 19B, andaccordingly, the frame can be formed to be narrow.

Display Unit 10 with Touch Detection Function

An example of the configuration of the display unit 10 with a touchdetection function will be described in detail.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of the display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagramthat illustrates a pixel array of the display unit with a touchdetection function according to the first embodiment. The display unit10 with a touch detection function includes: a pixel substrate 2; acounter substrate 3 that is arranged so as to face the pixel substrate 2in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the pixel substrate 2;and a liquid crystal layer 6 that is interposed between the pixelsubstrate 2 and the counter substrate 3.

The pixel substrate 2 includes a TFT substrate 21 as a circuit board anda plurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged on the TFT substrate 21 in amatrix. On the TFT substrate 21, a thin film transistor (TFT) element Trof each pixel Pix and wirings such as a pixel signal line SGL supplyinga pixel signal Vpix to each pixel electrode 22 and a scanning signalline GCL driving each TFT element Tr are formed as illustrated in FIG.10. In this way, the pixel signal lines SGL extend on a plane parallelto the surface of the TFT substrate and supply a pixel signal used fordisplaying an image in the pixels. The liquid crystal display unit 20illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a plurality of pixels Pix arranged in amatrix. Each of the pixels Pix includes a TFT element Tr and a liquidcrystal element LC. The TFT element Tr is configured by a thin filmtransistor and, in this example, is configured by a TFT of the n-channelmetal oxide semiconductor (MOS) type. The TFT element Tr has a sourceconnected to the pixel signal line SGL, a gate connected to the scanningsignal line GCL, and a drain connected to one end of the liquid crystalelement LC. The liquid crystal element LC has one end connected to thedrain of the TFT element Tr and the other end connected to the driveelectrode COML.

A pixel Pix and another pixel Pix belonging to the same row of theliquid crystal display unit 20 are connected to each other by thescanning signal line GCL. The scanning signal line GCL is connected tothe gate driver 12 and is supplied with a scanning signal Vscan from thegate driver 12. A pixel Pix and another pixel Pix belonging to the samecolumn of the liquid crystal display unit 20 are connected to each otherby the pixel signal line SGL. The pixel signal line SGL is connected tothe source driver 13 and is supplied with a pixel signal Vpix from thesource driver 13. The pixel Pix and another pixel Pix belonging to thesame column of the liquid crystal display unit 20 are connected to eachother by the drive electrode COML. The drive electrode COML is connectedto the drive electrode driver 14 and is supplied with a drive signalVcom from the drive electrode driver 14. In other words, in thisexample, a plurality of pixels Pix belong to the same column areconfigured to share one drive electrode COML.

The gate driver 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 applies a scanning signal Vscanto the gate of the TFT element Tr of the pixels Pix through the scanningsignal line GCL illustrated in FIG. 10, thereby sequentially selectingone row (one horizontal line) from among pixels Pix formed in a matrixin the liquid crystal display unit 20 as a target of display driving.The source driver 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 supplies a pixel signal Vpixto each pixel Pix configuring one horizontal line, which is sequentiallyselected by the gate driver 12, through the pixel signal line SGLillustrated in FIG. 10. Thus, these pixels Pix display one horizontalline in accordance with the supplied pixel signal Vpix. The driveelectrode driver 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 applies a drive signal Vcom,thereby driving drive electrodes COML for each block that is configuredby a predetermined number of the drive electrodes COML illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display unit 20, onehorizontal line is sequentially selected at each time as the gate driver12 performs driving such that line sequential scanning is performed forthe scanning signal lines GCL in a time divisional manner. Further, inthe liquid crystal display unit 20, the source driver 13 supplies apixel signal Vpix to pixels Pix belonging to one horizontal line,whereby each one horizontal line is displayed. When this displayoperation is performed, the drive electrode driver 14 is configured toapply a drive signal Vcom to a block including drive electrodes COMLcorresponding to the one horizontal line.

The counter substrate 3 includes: a glass substrate 31; a color filter32 formed on one face of the glass substrate 31; and a plurality ofdrive electrodes COML formed on the surface of the color filter 32 thatis opposite to the glass substrate 31. On the other face of the glasssubstrate 31, touch detection electrodes TDL that are detectionelectrodes of the touch detection device 30 are formed, and a polarizingplate 35 is arranged on the touch detection electrode TDL.

In the color filter 32, for example, color filters colored in threecolors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are cyclically arranged, andthree colors of R, G, and B are associated with each pixel Pixillustrated in FIG. 10 described above as one set. The color filter 32faces the liquid crystal layer 6 in a direction perpendicular to the TFTsubstrate. When the color filter 32 is colored in different colors, aset of different colors may be employed.

The drive electrode COML according to the embodiment serves as a commondrive electrode of the liquid crystal display unit 20 and also serves asa drive electrode of the touch detection device 30. In this embodiment,one drive electrode COML is arranged to be in correspondence with onepixel electrode 22 (pixel electrodes 22 configuring one column). Thedrive electrode COML according to the first embodiment faces the pixelelectrode 22 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the TFTsubstrate 21 and extends in a direction parallel to the direction inwhich the above-described pixel signal line SGL extends. The driveelectrode COML is configured to be applied with a drive signal Vcomhaving an AC rectangular waveform to the drive electrode COML from thedrive electrode driver 14 through a contact conductive pillar, which isnot illustrated in the figure, having conductivity.

The liquid crystal layer 6 modulates light passing therethrough inaccordance with the state of electric fields thereof. In the liquidcrystal layer 6, a liquid crystal of various modes such as a twistednematic (TN) mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, and an electricallycontrolled birefringence (ECB) mode is used.

Between the liquid crystal layer 6 and the pixel substrate 2 and betweenthe liquid crystal layer 6 and the counter substrate 3, an orientationfilm may be respectively arranged. An incident side polarizing plate maybe arranged on the lower face side of the pixel substrate 2.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view that illustrates an example of theconfiguration of the drive electrodes and the touch detection electrodesof the display unit with a touch detection function according to thefirst embodiment. The touch detection device 30 is configured by thedrive electrodes COML and the touch detection electrodes TDL provided onthe counter substrate 3. The drive electrodes COML are configured by aplurality of stripe-shaped electrode patterns extending in thehorizontal direction in the figure. When a touch detection operation isperformed, a drive signal Vcom is sequentially supplied to eachelectrode pattern by the drive electrode driver 14, and line sequentialscanning driving is performed in a time divisional manner as will bedescribed later. The touch detection electrodes TDL are configured bystripe-shaped electrode patterns extending in a direction intersectingthe extending direction of the electrode patterns of the driveelectrodes COML. The touch detection electrodes TDL face the driveelectrodes COML in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the TFTsubstrate 21. Each electrode pattern of the touch detection electrodeTDL is connected to the input of the analog LPF unit 42 of the touchdetection unit 40. Electrode patterns intersecting each other of thedrive electrodes COML and the touch detection electrodes TDL generateelectrostatic capacitance in each of the intersecting portions thereof.

By employing such a configuration, in the touch detection device 30,when the touch detection operation is performed, the drive electrodedriver 14 drives the drive electrodes COML as a drive electrode block ina time divisional manner so as to perform line sequential scanning, andaccordingly, each detection block of the drive electrode COML issequentially selected. Then, by outputting a touch detection signal Vdetfrom the touch detection electrode TDL, touch detection for onedetection block is performed. In other words, the drive electrode blockcorresponds to the drive electrode E1 illustrated in the above-describedbasic principle of the touch detection, the touch detection electrodeTDL corresponds to the touch detection electrode E2, and the touchdetection device 30 detects a touch based on this basic principle. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the electrode patterns intersecting each otherconfigures touch sensors of the capacitance type in a matrix.Accordingly, by scanning the whole touch detection face of the touchdetection device 30, a position at which an external proximity object isin contact with or in proximity to the touch detection face can bedetected as well.

Here, the TFT substrate 21 corresponds to a specific example of a“substrate” in the present disclosure. The pixel electrode 22corresponds to a specific example of a “pixel electrode” in the presentdisclosure. The pixel signal line SGL corresponds to a specific exampleof a “signal line” in the present disclosure. The drive electrode COMLcorresponds to a specific example of a “drive electrode” in the presentdisclosure. The liquid crystal elements LC correspond to a specificexample of a “display functional layer” in the present disclosure. Thesource driver 13 and the drive electrode driver 14 correspond to aspecific example of a “scanning drive unit” in the present disclosure.The touch detection unit 40 corresponds to a specific example of a“detection processing unit” in the present disclosure. The touchdetection electrode TDL corresponds to a specific example of a “touchdetection electrode” in the present disclosure. The color filter 32corresponds to a specific example of a “color filter” in the presentdisclosure.

1-1B. Operation and Action

The operation and the action of the display device 1 with a touchdetection function according to the first embodiment will be described.

Since the drive electrode COML serves both as a drive electrode of thetouch detection device 30 and as a common drive electrode of the liquidcrystal display unit 20, there is a possibility that the drive signalVcom influences with each other. Accordingly, the drive signal Vcom isapplied to the drive electrode COML separately in a display period Bduring which a display operation is performed and in a touch detectionperiod A during which a touch detection operation is performed. In thedisplay period B in which the display operation is performed, the driveelectrode driver 14 applies the drive signal Vcom as a display drivesignal. On the other hand, in the touch detection period A in which thetouch detection operation is performed, the drive electrode driver 14applies the drive signal Vcom as a touch drive signal. In descriptionpresented below, the drive signal Vcom as a display drive signal may bereferred to as a display drive signal Vcomd, and the drive signal Vcomas a touch drive signal may be referred to as a touch drive signalVcomt.

Overview of Overall Operation

The control unit 11 supplies control signals to the gate driver 12, thesource driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and the touch detectionunit 40 based on a video signal Vdisp supplied from the outside, therebyperforming control such that the units operate in synchronization witheach other. In the display period B, the gate driver 12 supplies ascanning signal Vscan to the liquid crystal display unit 20, therebysequentially selecting one horizontal line that is a target of thedisplay drive. In the display period B, the source driver 13 supplies apixel signal Vpix to each pixel Pix configuring one horizontal lineselected by the gate driver 12.

In the display period B, the drive electrode driver 14 applies a displaydrive signal Vcomd to a drive electrode block relating to one horizontalline, and, in the touch detection period A, the drive electrode driver14 sequentially applies a touch drive signal Vcomt of a frequency higherthan that of the display drive signal Vcomd to drive electrode blocksrelating to a touch detection operation, whereby one detection block issequentially selected. In the display period B, the display unit 10 witha touch detection function performs a display operation based on signalssupplied by the gate driver 12, the source driver 13, and the driveelectrode driver 14. In the touch detection period A, the display unit10 with a touch detection function performs a touch detection operationbased on a signal supplied by the drive electrode driver 14 and outputsa touch detection signal Vdet from the touch detection electrode TDL.The analog LPF unit 42 amplifies the touch detection signal Vdet andoutputs the amplified touch detection signal. The A/D conversion unit 43converts an analog signal output from the analog LPF unit 42 into adigital signal at timing synchronized with the touch drive signal Vcomt.The signal processing unit 44 detects a presence or no presence of atouch on the touch detection device 30 based on an output signal of theA/D conversion unit 43. When touch detection is made by the signalprocessing unit 44, the coordinate extracting unit 45 acquires touchpanel coordinates thereof. The control unit 11 changes the samplingfrequency of the touch drive signal Vcomt by controlling the detectiontiming control unit 46.

Detailed Operation

A detailed operation of the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction will be described. FIG. 12 is a timing waveform chart thatillustrates an example of the operation of the display device with atouch detection function according to the first embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, the liquid crystal display unit 20 performs adisplay by sequentially scanning each one horizontal line of scanningsignal lines GCL in order of (n−1)-th row, the n-th row adjacentthereto, and the (n+1)-th row adjacent thereto out of the scanningsignal line GCL in accordance with a scanning signal Vscan supplied fromthe gate driver 12. Similarly, the drive electrode driver 14sequentially supplies a drive signal to drive electrodes COML in orderof (m−1)-th column, the m-th column adjacent thereto, and the (m+1)-thcolumn adjacent thereto out of the drive electrodes COML of the displayunit 10 with a touch detection function based on a control signalsupplied from the control unit 11.

As describe above, in the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction, a touch detection operation (touch detection period A) and adisplay operation (display period B) are performed in a time divisionalmanner for each one display horizontal period (1H). In the touchdetection operation, scanning for touch detection is performed byselecting a different drive electrode COML and applying a drive signalVcom to the selected drive electrode for each one display horizontalperiod 1H. The operation will be described in detail as below.

First, the gate driver 12 applies a scanning signal Vscan to thescanning signal line GCL of the (n−1)-th row, whereby the scanningsignal Vscan(n−1) is changed from a low level to a high level. Thus, onedisplay horizontal period 1H is started.

Then, in the touch detection period A, the drive electrode driver 14applies a drive signal Vcom to the drive electrode COML of the (m−1)-thcolumn, whereby the drive signal Vcom(m−1) is changed from the low levelto the high level. This drive signal Vcom(m−1) is propagated to thetouch detection electrode TDL through an electrostatic capacitance,whereby the touch detection signal Vdet is changed. Then, when the drivesignal Vcom(m−1) is changed from the high level to the low level, thetouch detection signal Vdet is similarly changed. The waveform of thetouch detection signal Vdet in the touch detection period A correspondsto the touch detection signal Vdet of the above-described basicprinciple of the touch detection. The A/D conversion unit 43 performsA/D conversion of the touch detection signal Vdet in the touch detectionperiod A, thereby performing touch detection. Thus, the display device 1with a touch detection function performs touch detection of onedetection line.

Then, in the display period B, the source driver 13 applies a pixelsignal Vpix to the pixel signal lines SGL, thereby performing a displayof one horizontal line. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a change in the pixelsignal Vpix is propagated to the touch detection electrode TDL throughparasitic capacitance, and accordingly, the touch detection signal Vdetmay change. However, in the display period B, by configuring the A/Dconversion unit 43 not to perform A/D conversion, the influence of thechange in the pixel signal Vpix on the touch detection can besuppressed. After the supply of the pixel signal Vpix from the sourcedriver 13 ends, the gate driver 12 changes the scanning signalVscan(n−1) of the scanning signal line GCL of the (n−1)-th row from thehigh level to the low level, and the one display horizontal period ends.

Then, the gate driver 12 applies a scanning signal Vscan to the scanningsignal line GCL of the n-th row that is different from the previous row,whereby the scanning signal Vscan(n) is changed from the low level tothe high level. thus, the next one display horizontal period is started.

In the next touch detection period A, the drive electrode driver 14applies a drive signal Vcom to the drive electrode COML of the m-thcolumn different from the previous drive electrode. Then, A/D conversionof a change in the touch detection signal Vdet is performed by the A/Dconversion unit 43, whereby touch detection of this one detection lineis performed.

Then, in the display period B, the source driver 13 applies a pixelsignal Vpix to the pixel signal line SGL, thereby performing a displayof one horizontal line. Since the display device 1 with a touchdetection function according to the present embodiment performsdot-inversion driving, the polarity of the pixel signal Vpix applied bythe source driver 13 is inverted from that of the previous one displayhorizontal period. After the display period B ends, this one displayhorizontal period 1H ends.

Thereafter, by repeating the above-described operations, the displaydevice 1 with a touch detection function performs a display operation byscanning the whole the display face and performs a touch detectionoperation by scanning the whole touch detection face.

As described above, the display device 1 with a touch detection functionoperates such that the direction in which the display scanning isperformed is different from the direction in which the touch detectionscanning is performed. This means that, during one display horizontalperiod (1H), both the display operation and the touch detectionoperation are necessarily performed for a pixel Pix. In the displaydevice 1 with a touch detection function, in one display horizontalperiod (1H), the touch detection operation is performed in the touchdetection period A, and the display operation is performed in thedisplay period B. As described above, since the touch detectionoperation and the display operation are performed in periods differentfrom each other, both the display operation and the touch detectionoperation can be performed during the same one display horizontalperiod, and the influence of the display operation on the touchdetection can be suppressed.

Arrangement of Touch Detection Electrode

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the arrangement of touchdetection electrodes according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is aschematic diagram that illustrates the arrangement of touch detectionelectrodes of a comparative example. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram thatillustrates the relation between the arrangement of touch detectionelectrodes and color areas of color filters of the comparative example.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the touch detection electrodes TDL accordingto the first embodiment, which are arranged on the counter substrate 3,are connected to the touch detection unit 40 through detection wiringsTDG. The touch detection electrode TDL is formed of a metal material ofat least one of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and an alloythereof. The metal material of at least one of aluminum (Al), copper(Cu), silver (Ag), and an alloy thereof has resistance lower than atransparent conductive oxide such as an indium tin oxide (ITO) as thematerial of a transparent electrode. The metal material of at least oneof aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and an alloy thereof has alight shielding property higher than a transparent conductive oxide suchas ITO, and accordingly, there is a possibility that the transmittancemay decrease, or the pattern of the touch detection electrode TDL may bevisually recognized.

Accordingly, in the counter substrate 3, dummy terminals TDD, which arenot connected to the touch detection unit 40, are arranged between thetouch detection electrodes TDL in parallel with the extending directionof the touch detection electrode TDL. The dummy electrode TDD is formedof a material that is the same as the material of the touch detectionelectrode TDL. Thus, the visual recognition of the touch detectionelectrodes due to light shielding of the touch detection electrodes TDLis relieved. Description of a predetermined pitch of metal wirings ofthe touch detection electrodes TDL in the first, second, third, andfourth embodiments and modifications to be presented below may beapplied also to a predetermined pitch between metal wirings of the dummyelectrodes TDD (the pitch of touch detection electrodes). Similarly,description of a predetermined pitch of metal wirings of the touchdetection electrodes TDL (the pitch of the touch detection electrodes)in the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments and modifications tobe presented below may be applied to a predetermined pitch of a metalwiring of the touch detection electrode TDL and a metal wiring of thedummy electrode TDD.

As described above, the drive electrodes COML according to the firstembodiment face the pixel electrodes 22 in a direction perpendicular tothe surface of the TFT substrate 21 and extend in a direction parallelto the extending direction of the pixel signal lines SGL as describedabove. Accordingly, the touch detection electrodes TDL illustrated inFIG. 13 are metal wirings extending in a direction different from adirection in which the pixel signal lines SGL supplying a pixel signalVpix to each pixel electrode 22 illustrated in FIG. 10 extend, and themetal wirings are arranged with a predetermined pitch.

Incidentally, in some cases, the drive electrodes COML face the pixelelectrodes 22 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the TFTsubstrate 21 and extend in a direction different from theabove-described extending direction in which the pixel signal lines SGLextend. In such a case, the touch detection electrodes TDL illustratedin FIG. 14 are metal wirings extending in a direction parallel to adirection in which the pixel signal lines SGL supplying the pixel signalVpix to each pixel electrode 22 illustrated in FIG. 10 extend, and themetal wirings are arranged with a predetermined pitch. In a case wherethe metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDL are arranged asillustrated in FIG. 14, as illustrated in FIG. 15, there is apossibility that the metal wirings shield specific color areas 32B ofthe color filter. In the color filter 32 illustrated in FIG. 15, thereare color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B colored in three colors of red (R),green (G), and blue (B). The color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B, usually,extend in the extending direction of the pixel signal lines SGL. Sincethe touch detection electrodes TDL illustrated in FIG. 15 are metalwirings extending in a direction parallel to the extending direction ofthe pixel signal lines SGL, for example, there is a possibility thatonly the color areas 32B are shielded so that the color to be originallydisplayed by the liquid crystal display unit 20 is shifted.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to the first embodiment. In a case where the touchdetection electrodes TDL are metal wirings extending in a directiondifferent from the extending direction of the pixel signal lines SGL asillustrated in FIG. 13, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the color areas 32R,32G, and 32B of the color filter 32 and the touch detection electrodesTDL cross over each other. Accordingly, the touch detection electrodesTDL uniformly shield light in the color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B. As aresult, the possibility of shifting the color to be originally displayedby the liquid crystal display unit 20 can be suppressed.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the touch detection electrodes TDL arearranged at intervals of a natural number multiple (for example, onetime) of the pixel pitch vl between pixels Pix of a plurality of pixelelectrodes 22 arranged in a matrix. In this case, a touch detectionelectrode pitch pl that is an interval between adjacent touch detectionelectrodes TDL is the same as the pixel pitch vl of the pixels Pix inthe extending direction of the touch detection electrodes TDL. The touchdetection electrode pitch pl may be a natural number multiple of thepixel pitch vl that is one to ten times the pixel pitch, depending onthe pixel size. The touch detection electrode pitch pl may be aninterval of 50 μm to 500 μm, depending on the pixel size. Thus, thetouch detection electrode TDL passes through the edge portion of thepixel Pix, and accordingly, a decrease in the transmittance of the pixelPix can be suppressed. As a countermeasure against moire, the touchdetection electrode pitch pl may have a variation, and the touchdetection electrodes may be randomly arranged in a range of about 10%(for example, 50 μm in a case where the pitch is 500 μm) of “the widthof the display area/the number of detection electrodes.” Here, thenumber of detection electrodes is a total number of dummy electrodes TDDand touch detection electrodes TDL, and the width of the display area isthe length of the displayable area of the liquid crystal display unit 20in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the touchdetection electrodes TDL.

1-1C. Advantage

As described above, according to the display device 1 with a touchdetection function according to the first embodiment, although the metaltouch detection electrodes TDL are used, a decrease in the transmittanceor visual recognition of the patterns of the touch detection electrodesTDL due to the metal touch detection electrodes TDL is suppressed. As aresult, the touch detection electrodes TDL have low resistance, and thedisplay device 1 with a touch detection function can be formed to bethin, have a large screen, or have high precision.

Further, the display device 1 with a touch detection function accordingto the first embodiment can suppress the possibility of shifting thecolor to be originally displayed by the liquid crystal display unit 20.

1-1D. First Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a first modification of the first embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 17, the touch detection electrodes TDL are arrangedat intervals of a natural number multiple (for example, twice) of thepitch of pixels Pix of a plurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged in amatrix. In this case, a touch detection electrode pitch pl that is aninterval between adjacent touch detection electrodes TDL is the same astwice the pixel pitch vl of the pixels Pix in the extending direction ofthe touch detection electrodes TDL. Thus, the touch detection electrodeTDL passes through the edge portion of the pixel Pix, and accordingly, adecrease in the transmittance of the pixel Pix can be suppressed.

1-1E. Second Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a second modification of the first embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 18, the touch detection electrodes TDL are arrangedat intervals of a natural number multiple (for example, twice) of thepitch of pixels Pix of a plurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged in amatrix. In this case, a touch detection electrode pitch pl that is aninterval between adjacent touch detection electrodes TDL is the same astwice the pixel pitch vl of the pixels Pix in the extending direction ofthe touch detection electrodes TDL. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the touchdetection electrodes TDL are metal wirings extending in a directiondifferent from the extending direction of the pixel signal lines SGLwhile having a direction and an angle along the edge portion of thepixel Pix by regularly including a bending portion TDQ. By including thebending portion TDQ, light scattered at the touch detection electrodeTDL disperses, and the occurrence of a Newton ring or moire can besuppressed by suppressing the interference of light. In the touchdetection electrode TDL, as illustrated in FIG. 18, each of the colorareas 32R, 32G, and 32B of the color filter 32 and the touch detectionelectrodes TDL cross over each other.

1-1F. Third Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a third modification of the first embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 19, the touch detection electrodes TDL are arrangedat intervals of a natural number multiple (for example, twice) of thepitch of pixels Pix of a plurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged in amatrix. In this case, a touch detection electrode pitch pl that is aninterval between adjacent touch detection electrodes TDL is the same astwice the pixel pitch vl of the pixels Pix in the extending direction ofthe touch detection electrode TDL. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the touchdetection electrodes TDL are metal wirings extending in directiondifferent from the extending direction of the pixel signal lines SGLwhile having direction and angle along the edge portion of the pixel Pixby regularly including bending portions TDQD and TDQU. By including thebending portions TDQD and TDQU different from each other in the touchdetection electrodes TDL adjacent to each other, light scattered at thetouch detection electrodes TDL disperses, and the occurrence of a Newtonring or moire can be suppressed by suppressing the interference oflight. In the touch detection electrode TDL, as illustrated in FIG. 19,each of the color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B of the color filter 32 and thetouch detection electrodes TDL cross over each other.

1-1G. Fourth Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment. Thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function includes: a pixelsubstrate 2; a counter substrate 3 that is arranged so as to face thepixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thepixel substrate 2; and a liquid crystal layer 6 that is interposedbetween the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3. The countersubstrate 3 includes a glass substrate 31 and a color filter 32 formedon one face of the glass substrate 31. On the other face of the glasssubstrate 31, touch detection electrodes TDL that are detectionelectrodes of the touch detection device 30 are formed, and, on thetouch detection electrodes TDL, a polarizing plate 35A is arranged.

The pixel substrate 2 includes: a TFT substrate 21 as a circuit board; aplurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged on the TFT substrate 21 in amatrix; a plurality of drive electrodes COML formed between the TFTsubstrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22; and an incident-sidepolarizing plate 35B arranged on the lower face side of the TFTsubstrate 21.

1-1H. Fifth Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a fifth modification of the first embodiment. Thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function includes: a pixelsubstrate 2; a counter substrate 3 that is arranged so as to face thepixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thepixel substrate 2; and a liquid crystal layer 6 that is interposedbetween the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3. In thecounter substrate 3, one face of a glass substrate 31A and one face of aglass substrate 31B are bonded together by an adhesive layer 31P. Acolor filter 32 is formed on the other face of the glass substrate 31B.Touch detection electrodes TDL are formed on one face of the glasssubstrate 31A, and on the touch detection electrodes TDL, a polarizingplate 35A is arranged. By bonding the glass substrates 31B and 31A tothe adhesive layer 31P, the touch detection electrodes TDL areinterposed between the glass substrates 31B and 31A.

The pixel substrate 2 includes: a TFT substrate 21 as a circuit board; aplurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged on the TFT substrate 21 in amatrix; a plurality of drive electrodes COML formed between the TFTsubstrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22; and an incident-sidepolarizing plate 35B arranged on the lower face side of the TFTsubstrate 21.

1-1I. Sixth Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a sixth modification of the first embodiment. Thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function includes: a pixelsubstrate 2; a counter substrate 3 that is arranged so as to face thepixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thepixel substrate 2; and a liquid crystal layer 6 that is interposedbetween the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3. In thecounter substrate 3, one face of a glass substrate 31A and one face of aglass substrate 31B are bonded together by an adhesive layer 31P. Acolor filter 32 is formed on the other face of the glass substrate 31B.Touch detection electrodes TDL are formed on one face of the glasssubstrate 31A, and a polarizing plate 35A is arranged on the other faceof the glass substrate 31A. By bonding the glass substrates 31B and 31Ato the adhesive layer 31P, the touch detection electrodes TDL areinterposed between the glass substrates 31B and 31A.

The pixel substrate 2 includes: a TFT substrate 21 as a circuit board; aplurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged on the TFT substrate 21 in amatrix; a plurality of drive electrodes COML formed between the TFTsubstrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22; and an incident-sidepolarizing plate 35B arranged on the lower face side of the TFTsubstrate 21.

1-1J. Seventh Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a seventh modification of the first embodiment. Inthe seventh modification of the first embodiment, the above-describeddrive electrodes COML serve as common drive electrodes of a liquidcrystal display unit 20, and drive electrodes Comt serve as driveelectrodes of a touch detection device 30. In other words, a displayunit 10 with a touch detection function is a so-called on-cell typedevice in which the touch detection device 30 of the capacitance type ismounted on the liquid crystal display unit 20 using a liquid crystaldisplay element as a display element. In a display period B in which adisplay operation is performed, a drive electrode driver 14 applies adrive signal Vcom to the drive electrodes COML as a display drivesignal. In a touch detection period A in which a touch detectionoperation is performed, the drive electrode driver 14 applies a drivesignal Vcom to the drive electrodes COMLt as a touch drive signal.

The display unit 10 with a touch detection function includes: a pixelsubstrate 2; a counter substrate 3 that is arranged so as to face thepixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thepixel substrate 2; and a liquid crystal layer 6 that is interposedbetween the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3. In thecounter substrate 3, one face of a glass substrate 31A and one face of aglass substrate 31B are bonded together by an adhesive layer 31P. Acolor filter 32 is formed on the other face of the glass substrate 31B.A plurality of drive electrodes COMLt are formed on the surface of thecolor filter 32. Touch detection electrode TDL are formed on one face ofthe glass substrate 31A, and a polarizing plate 35A is arranged on theother face of the glass substrate 31A. By bonding the glass substrates31B and 31A to the adhesive layer 31P, the touch detection electrodesTDL are interposed between the glass substrates 31B and 31A.

The pixel substrate 2 includes: a TFT substrate 21 as a circuit board; aplurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged on the TFT substrate 21 in amatrix; a plurality of drive electrodes COML formed between the TFTsubstrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22; and an incident-sidepolarizing plate 35B arranged on the lower face side of the TFTsubstrate 21. As described above, in the display unit 10 with a touchdetection function according to the seventh modification of the firstembodiment, the touch detection device of the capacitance type ismounted on the liquid crystal display unit.

1-2. Second Embodiment

A display device 1 with a touch detection function according to a secondembodiment will be described. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view thatillustrates a schematic cross-section structure of the display unit witha touch detection function according to the second embodiment. FIG. 25is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to the second embodiment. The same reference numeralsare assigned to the same constituent elements as those described in thefirst embodiment described above, and duplicate description thereof willnot be repeated.

The display unit 10 with a touch detection function includes: a pixelsubstrate 2; a counter substrate 3 that is arranged so as to face thepixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thepixel substrate 2; and a liquid crystal layer 6 that is interposedbetween the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3. In thecounter substrate 3, one face of a glass substrate 31A and one face of aglass substrate 31B are bonded together by an adhesive layer 31P. Acolor filter 32 is formed on the other face of the glass substrate 31B.Touch detection electrodes TDL are formed on the surface of the colorfilter 32. On the other face of the glass substrate 31A, a polarizingplate 35A is arranged.

The pixel substrate 2 includes: a TFT substrate 21 as a circuit board; aplurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged on the TFT substrate 21 in amatrix; a plurality of drive electrodes COML formed between the TFTsubstrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22; and an incident-sidepolarizing plate 35B arranged on the lower face side of the TFTsubstrate 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the touch detection electrodes TDL arearranged at a position nearer to the liquid crystal layer 6 than thecolor filter 32. As illustrated in FIG. 25, a light shielding layer BM,which has a light shielding action, called as a black matrix that isdisposed on the same layer as the layer of the color filter 32 isarranged in an edge portion of the pixel Pix. In a case where the touchdetection electrodes TDL are metal wirings extending in a directiondifferent from the extending direction of the pixel signal lines SGL, asillustrated in FIG. 25, the color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B of the colorfilter 32 and the touch detection electrodes TDL cross over each other.At this time, the touch detection electrodes TDL extend in the extendingdirection of the light shielding layer BM and is disposed at a positionnearer to the pixel electrode 22 than the light shielding layer BM.Accordingly, a decrease in the transmittance that is caused by the touchdetection electrode TDL is of the same degree as that of a decrease inthe transmittance caused by the light shielding layer BM, and a decreasein the transmittance due to the formation of the touch detectionelectrodes TDL using a metal material can be reduced.

1-2A. Modification of Second Embodiment

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematiccross-section structure of a display unit with a touch detectionfunction according to a modification of the second embodiment. Thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function includes: a pixelsubstrate 2; a counter substrate 3 that is arranged so as to face thepixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thepixel substrate 2; and a liquid crystal layer 6 that is interposedbetween the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3. In thecounter substrate 3, one face of a glass substrate 31A and one face of aglass substrate 31B are bonded together by an adhesive layer 31P. Acolor filter 32 is formed on the other face of the glass substrate 31B.On the other face of the glass substrate 31A, a polarizing plate 35A isarranged.

The pixel substrate 2 includes: a TFT substrate 21 as a circuit board; aplurality of pixel electrodes 22 arranged on the TFT substrate 21 in amatrix; touch detection electrodes TDL that are formed in the same layeras that of the pixel electrode 22; a plurality of drive electrodes COMLformed between the TFT substrate 21 and the pixel electrode 22; and anincident-side polarizing plate 35B arranged on the lower face side ofthe TFT substrate 21.

1-2B. Advantage

As above, according to the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction according to the second embodiment, although the metal touchdetection electrodes TDL are used, a decrease in the transmittance orvisual recognition of the patterns of the touch detection electrodes TDLdue to the metal touch detection electrodes TDL is suppressed. As aresult, the touch detection electrodes TDL have low resistance, and thedisplay device 1 with a touch detection function can be formed to bethin, have a large screen, or have high precision.

1-3. Third Embodiment

A display device 1 with a touch detection function according to a thirdembodiment will be described. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram thatillustrates the relation between the arrangement of touch detectionelectrodes and color areas of a color filter according to the thirdembodiment. The same reference numerals are assigned to the sameconstituent elements as those described in the first or secondembodiment described above, and duplicate description thereof will notbe repeated.

Drive electrodes COML according to the third embodiment face the pixelelectrodes 22 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the TFTsubstrate 21 and extend in a direction different from the extendingdirection of the pixel signal lines SGL described above. Accordingly,the touch detection electrodes TDL illustrated in FIG. 27 are metalwirings extending in a direction parallel to a direction in which thepixel signal lines SGL supplying a pixel signal Vpix to each pixelelectrode 22 illustrated in FIG. 10 extend, and the metal wirings arearranged with a predetermined pitch. As illustrated in FIG. 27, in acase where the metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDL arearranged, bending portions TDQL and TDLQR are regularly included so asnot to shield a specific color area of the color filter 32 from light.As illustrated in FIG. 27, the metal wirings of the touch detectionelectrodes TDL are zigzag wirings in which straight lines having anangle θ with respect to a straight line perpendicular to theabove-described scanning signal lines GCL are repeated at the bendingportions TDQL and TDLQR at regular intervals. For example, the angle θis 5 degrees to 75 degrees, is preferably 25 degrees to 40 degrees, andis more preferably 50 degrees to 65 degrees. The metal wirings of thetouch detection electrodes TDL may be arranged to have a fluctuation ina desired range. Accordingly, the metal wirings of the touch detectionelectrodes TDL meander and are wired so as to cross over the color areas32R, 32G, and 32B of the color filter 32. The extending direction of thetouch detection electrodes TDL has an angle with respect to theextending directions of the color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B of the colorfilter 32. As a result, the metal wires of the touch detectionelectrodes TDL sequentially shield the color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B ofthe color filter 32 from light, whereby a decrease in the transmittancein a specific color area of the color filter 32 can be suppressed. Aplurality of touch detection electrodes TDL may be configured to beconductive to the detection wiring TDG such that one detection block isused in a plurality of the touch detection electrodes TDL.

1-3A. Modification of Third Embodiment

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a modification of the third embodiment. The touchdetection electrodes TDL illustrated in FIG. 28 are metal wiringsextending in a direction parallel to a direction in which the pixelsignal lines SGL supplying a pixel signal Vpix to each pixel electrode22 illustrated in FIG. 10 extend, and the metal wirings are arrangedwith a predetermined pitch. As illustrated in FIG. 28, in a case wherethe metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDL are arranged,bending portions TDQL and TDLQR are regularly included so as not toshield a specific color area of the color filter 32 from light.Accordingly, the metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDLintersect each other at intersections TDQX that is disposed on the sameplane. The touch detection electrodes TDL that are conductive at theintersection TDQX operate as one detection block. As illustrated in FIG.28, the metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDL are zigzagwirings in which straight lines having an angle θ with respect to astraight line perpendicular to the above-described scanning signal linesGCL are repeated at the bending portions TDQL and TDLQR at regularintervals. For example, the angle θ is 5 degrees to 75 degrees, ispreferably 25 degrees to 40 degrees, and is more preferably 50 degreesto 65 degrees. The metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDLmay be arranged to have a fluctuation in a desired range. The metalwirings of the touch detection electrodes TDL meander and are wired soas to cross over the color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B of the color filter32. As a result, the metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDLsequentially shield the color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B of the colorfilter 32 from light, whereby a decrease in the transmittance in aspecific color area of the color filter 32 can be suppressed.

1-3B. Advantage

As described above, in the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction according to the third embodiment, although the metal touchdetection electrodes TDL are used, a decrease in the transmittance orvisual recognition of the patterns of the touch detection electrodes TDLdue to the metal touch detection electrodes TDL is suppressed. As aresult, the touch detection electrodes TDL have low resistance, and thedisplay device 1 with a touch detection function can be formed to bethin, have a large screen, or have high precision.

1-4. Fourth Embodiment

A display device 1 with a touch detection function according to a fourthembodiment will be described. FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view thatillustrates a schematic cross-section structure of touch detectionelectrodes according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 30 is a schematicdiagram that illustrates the relation between the arrangement of touchdetection electrodes and color areas of a color filter according to thefourth embodiment. The same reference numerals are assigned to the sameconstituent elements as those described in the first or secondembodiment described above, and duplicate description thereof will notbe repeated.

Drive electrodes COML according to the fourth embodiment face pixelelectrodes 22 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of a TFTsubstrate 21 and extend in a direction different from the extendingdirection of the pixel signal lines SGL described above. Accordingly, asdescribed above, the touch detection electrodes TDL illustrated in FIG.14 are metal wirings extending in a direction parallel to a direction inwhich the pixel signal lines SGL supplying a pixel signal Vpix to eachpixel electrode 22 illustrated in FIG. 10 extend, and the metal wiringsare arranged with a predetermined pitch plm. It is preferable that thepredetermined pitch plm between the metal wirings is 10 μm to 500 μm. Ina case where the metal wirings of the touch detection electrodes TDL arearranged as illustrated in FIG. 14, as illustrated in FIG. 15, there isa possibility that a specific color area 32B of the color filter 32 isshielded from light. Accordingly, the touch detection electrodes TDLillustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30 are transparent electrodes TDLi, whichare formed from ITO or the like, extending in a direction parallel to adirection in which pixel signal lines SGL supplying a pixel signal Vpixto each pixel electrode 22 illustrated in FIG. 10 extend, and thetransparent electrodes TDLi are arranged with a predetermined pitch.However, in each of the touch detection electrodes TDL, since theresistance of the transparent electrode TDLi formed of ITO or the likeis high, a metal touch electrode (metal electrode) TDLm formed of ametal material of at least one of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), silver(Ag) and an alloy thereof is stacked on the transparent electrode TDLi.Thus, in the touch detection electrodes TDL, the resistance of only aportion in which the transparent electrode TDLi is present decreases.

In a case where the metal touch electrode TDLm is continuous in theextending direction of the transparent electrode TDLi, there is apossibility that a specific color area 32B of the color filter 32 isshielded from light. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 30, the metal touchelectrode TDLm is configured to be divided in the extending direction ofthe transparent electrodes TDLi and is electrically conductive to thetransparent electrode TDLi. In dummy electrodes TDD, similarly to thetouch detection electrode TDL, a metal touch electrode (metal electrode)TDLm is stacked on the transparent electrode TDLi. Thus, the visualrecognition due to light shielding of the touch detection electrodes TDLis relieved. The transparent electrodes TDLi are insulated by a gapTDDS.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a first modification of the fourth embodiment. Asthe division ratio in the extending direction of the transparentelectrode TDLi increases, the metal touch electrode TDLm can suppress adecrease in the transmittance.

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the relation between thearrangement of touch detection electrodes and color areas of a colorfilter according to a second modification of the fourth embodiment. Themetal touch electrodes TDLm are arranged in the color areas 32R, 32G,and 32B of the color filter 32. Thus, a decrease in the transmittance inan area of a specific color in the color filter 32 can be suppressed. Byarranging the metal touch electrodes irregularly to some degrees, thedisplay device 1 with a touch detection function can suppress moire.

1-4A. Advantage

As described above, in the display device 1 with a touch detectionfunction according to the fourth embodiment, although the metal touchdetection electrodes TDL are used, a decrease in the transmittance orvisual recognition of the patterns of the touch detection electrodes TDLdue to the metal touch detection electrodes TDL using a metal touchelectrode TDLm that uses a metal material is suppressed. As a result,the touch detection electrodes TDL have low resistance, and the displaydevice 1 with a touch detection function can be formed to be thin, havea large screen, or have high precision.

1-5. Other Embodiments and Modifications

As described above, while several embodiments and the modificationsthereof have been described, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto, and various modifications may be made therein.

In the above-described embodiments, as illustrated in the firstembodiment described above, the drive electrode COML is driven toperform scanning for each one drive electrode; however, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. Thus, instead of such scanning, forexample, scanning may be performed such that a predetermined number ofdrive electrodes COML are driven, and the drive electrodes COML areshifted one by.

In the display device 1 with a touch detection function according toeach one of the embodiments and the modifications described above, thedisplay unit 10 with a touch detection function may be configured byintegrating the liquid crystal display unit 20 using any one of variousmodes such as TN, VA, and ECB, and the touch detection device 30.Instead of this, the display unit 10 with a touch detection function maybe configured by integrating a liquid crystal display unit using ahorizontal electric field mode such as fringe field switching (FFS) orin-plane switching (IPS), and the touch detection device.

For example, the display device 1 with a touch detection function mayuse a liquid crystal of a horizontal electric field mode. In eachembodiment described above, a so-called in-cell type is used in whichthe liquid crystal display unit and the touch detection device of thecapacitance type are integrated; however, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. Thus, instead of this, for example, the touch detectiondevice of the capacitance type may be mounted on the liquid crystaldisplay unit. Also in such a case, by employing the above-describedconfiguration, touch detection can be performed while the influence ofan external noise or a noise (corresponding to the internal noise ineach embodiment described above) propagated from the liquid crystaldisplay unit is suppressed.

2. APPLICATION EXAMPLES

Application examples of the display devices 1 with a touch detectionfunction described in the embodiments and the modifications will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 33 to 44. FIGS. 33 to 44 are diagramsthat illustrate examples of electronic apparatuses to which the displaydevices with a touch detection function according to the embodiments areapplied. The display devices 1 with a touch detection function accordingto the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, and modificationsthereof may be applied to electronic apparatuses in all the fields suchas a television set, a digital camera, a notebook personal computer, aportable terminal device such as a mobile phone, and a video camera. Inother words, the display device 1 with a touch detection functionaccording to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, andmodifications thereof may be applied to electronic apparatuses in allthe fields that are used for displaying a video signal input from theoutside or a video signal that is internally generated as an image or avideo.

Application Example 1

An electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 33 is a television set towhich the display devices 1 with a touch detection function according tothe first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, and modificationsthereof are applied. This television set, for example, includes a videodisplay screen unit 510 that includes a front panel 511 and a filterglass 512, and this video display screen unit 510 corresponds to thedisplay units with a touch detection function according to the first,second, third, and fourth embodiments, and modifications thereof.

Application Example 2

An electronic apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35 is a digitalcamera to which the display devices 1 with a touch detection functionaccording to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, andmodifications thereof are applied. This digital camera, for example,includes a light emitting unit 521 for a flash, a display unit 522, amenu switch 523, and a shutter button 524, and the display unit 522corresponds to the display units with a touch detection functionaccording to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, andmodifications thereof.

Application Example 3

An electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 36 illustrates the externalappearance of a video camera to which the display devices 1 with a touchdetection function according to the first, second, third, and fourthembodiments, and modifications thereof are applied. This video camera,for example, includes a main body unit 531, a subject photographing lens532 disposed on a front side face of the main body unit 531, astart/stop switch 533 for photographing, and a display unit 534. Thedisplay unit 534 corresponds to the display units with a touch detectionfunction according to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments,and modifications thereof.

Application Example 4

An electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. 37 is a notebook personalcomputer to which the display devices 1 with a touch detection functionaccording to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, andmodifications thereof are applied. This notebook personal computer, forexample, includes a main body 541, a keyboard 542 used for performing anoperation of inputting a character or the like, and a display unit 543displaying an image, and the display unit 543 corresponds to the displayunits with a touch detection function according to the first, second,third, and fourth embodiments, and modifications thereof.

Application Example 5

An electronic apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 38 to 44 is a mobile phoneto which the display devices 1 with a touch detection function accordingto the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, and modificationsthereof are applied. This mobile phone, for example, is acquired byconnecting an upper casing 551 and a lower casing 552 using a connectionportion (hinge portion) 553 and includes a display 554, a sub-display555, a picture light 556, and a camera 557. The display 554 or thesub-display 555 corresponds to the display units with a touch detectionfunction according to the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments,and modifications thereof.

3. ASPECTS OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure includes the following aspects.

(1) A display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix on a planeparallel to a surface of the substrate;

a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals used for displaying animage to the pixel electrodes;

a display functional layer that performs an image displaying functionbased on the pixel signals;

a drive electrode that faces the plurality of the pixel electrodes in avertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate andextends in a direction parallel to an extending direction of the signallines; and

a plurality of touch detection electrodes that are metal wirings facingthe drive electrode in the vertical direction and extending in adirection different from the extending direction of the signal lines,the metal wirings being arranged with a predetermined pitch so as tomake capacitive coupling with the drive electrode.

(2) The display device with a touch detection function according to (1),further comprising a color filter that faces the display functionallayer in the vertical direction and has a plurality of color areasincluding at least one of a color area colored in red, a color areacolored in green, and a color area colored in blue,

wherein an extending direction of each color area of the color filtercoincides with the extending direction of the signal lines, and

the plurality of touch detection electrodes cross over each color areaof the color filter.

(3) The display device with a touch detection function according to (1),wherein the metal wirings are arranged at intervals of a natural numbermultiple of a pitch of pixels of the display functional layer.

(4) The display device with a touch detection function according to (3),wherein the touch detection electrodes are disposed in a layer nearer tothe pixel display functional layer than a light shielding layershielding light in an edge portion of the pixels.

(5) The display device with a touch detection function according toclaim 1, wherein the touch detection electrodes include a bendingportion.

(6) A display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix on a planeparallel to a surface of the substrate;

a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals to the pixelelectrodes;

a display functional layer that performs an image displaying functionbased on the pixel signals;

a drive electrode that faces the plurality of the pixel electrodes in avertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate andextends in a direction different from an extending direction of thesignal lines;

a plurality of touch detection electrodes that are metal wirings facingthe drive electrode in the vertical direction, the metal wirings beingarranged with a predetermined pitch so as to make capacitive couplingwith the drive electrode; and

a color filter that faces the display functional layer in the verticaldirection and has a plurality of color areas including at least one of acolor area colored in red, a color area colored in green, and a colorarea colored in blue,

wherein the plurality of touch detection electrodes cross over eachcolor area of the color filter while extending in an extending directionof the signal lines.

(7) The display device with a touch detection function according toclaim 6, wherein the touch detection electrodes include a bendingportion such that an extending direction of the touch detectionelectrodes has an angle with respect to the extending direction of eachcolor area of the color filter.

(8) A display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix on a planeparallel to a surface of the substrate;

a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals to the pixelelectrodes;

a display functional layer that performs an image displaying functionbased on the pixel signals;

a drive electrode that faces the plurality of the pixel electrodes in avertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate andextends in a direction different from an extending direction of thesignal lines;

a plurality of touch detection electrodes that face the drive electrodein the vertical direction and are arranged with a predetermined pitch soas to make capacitive coupling with the drive electrode; and

a color filter that faces the display functional layer in the verticaldirection and has a plurality of color areas including at least one of acolor area colored in red, a color area colored in green, and a colorarea colored in blue,

wherein the plurality of touch detection electrodes include

(a) a transparent electrode extending along a specific one of the colorareas of the color filter and

(b) a metal electrode that is divided in the extending direction and isstacked on the transparent electrode.

(9) The display device with a touch detection function according toclaim 1, wherein the touch detection electrode is configured to detectan external proximity object by using a change in electrostaticcapacitance that is caused by proximity or contact of the externalproximity object.

(10) The display device with a touch detection function according toclaim 1, further comprising a scanning drive unit that applies a displaydrive signal to the drive electrode in a display operation period andapplies a touch drive signal to the drive electrode in a touch detectionoperation period.

(11) An electronic apparatus including a display device with a touchdetection function capable of detecting an external proximity object,the display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix on a planeparallel to a surface of the substrate;

a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals used for displaying animage to the pixel electrodes;

a display functional layer that performs an image displaying functionbased on the pixel signals;

a drive electrode that faces the plurality of the pixel electrodes in avertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate andextends in a direction parallel to an extending direction of the signallines; and

a plurality of touch detection electrodes that are metal wirings facingthe drive electrode in the vertical direction and extending in adirection different from the extending direction of the signal lines,the metal wirings being arranged with a predetermined pitch so as tomake capacitive coupling with the drive electrode.

(12) An electronic apparatus including a display device with a touchdetection function capable of detecting an external proximity object,the display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix on a planeparallel to a surface of the substrate;

a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals to the pixelelectrodes;

a display functional layer that performs an image displaying functionbased on the pixel signals;

a drive electrode that faces the plurality of the pixel electrodes in avertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate andextends in a direction different from an extending direction of thesignal lines;

a plurality of touch detection electrodes that are metal wirings facingthe drive electrode in the vertical direction, the metal wirings beingarranged with a predetermined pitch so as to make capacitive couplingwith the drive electrode; and

a color filter that faces the display functional layer in the verticaldirection and has a plurality of color areas including at least one of acolor area colored in red, a color area colored in green, and a colorarea colored in blue, and

wherein the plurality of touch detection electrodes cross over eachcolor area of the color filter while extending in an extending directionof the signal lines.

(13) An electronic apparatus including a display device with a touchdetection function capable of detecting an external proximity object,the display device with a touch detection function comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix on a planeparallel to a surface of the substrate;

a plurality of signal lines that extend on a plane parallel to thesurface of the substrate and supply pixel signals to the pixelelectrodes;

a display functional layer that performs an image displaying functionbased on the pixel signals;

a drive electrode that faces the plurality of the pixel electrodes in avertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate andextends in a direction different from an extending direction of thesignal lines;

a plurality of touch detection electrodes that face the drive electrodein the vertical direction and are arranged with a predetermined pitch soas to make capacitive coupling with the drive electrode; and

a color filter that faces the display functional layer in the verticaldirection and has a plurality of color areas including at least one of acolor area colored in red, a color area colored in green, and a colorarea colored in blue, and

wherein the plurality of touch detection electrodes include

(a) a transparent electrode extending along a specific one of the colorareas of the color filter and

(b) a metal electrode that is divided in the extending direction and isstacked on the transparent electrode.

Examples of the electronic apparatus of the present disclosure include,but are not limited to, television sets, digital cameras, personalcomputers, video cameras, and portable devices such as cellular phoneand smart phones.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, while metal touchdetection electrodes are used, a decrease in transmittance or the visualrecognition of the patterns of the touch detection electrodes due to themetal touch detection electrodes is suppressed.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the resistance of thetouch detection electrodes decreases, and the display device with atouch detection function can be formed to be thin, have a large screen,or have high precision.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows: 1: A display device with a touchdetection device, comprising a plurality of display elements that aresurrounded by a plurality of scan lines each extending in a firstdirection and a plurality of signal lines each extending in a seconddirection crossing the first direction; a plurality of touch detectionelectrodes opposed to the plurality of display elements; a plurality ofmetal wires disposed on each of the touch detection electrodes andextending along the plurality of signal lines, the metal wires beingoverlapped with a corresponding one of the signal lines, wherein theplurality of metal wires are disposed without crossing each other andspaced from each other. 2: The display device with a touch detectiondevice according to claim 1, wherein the touch detection electrodes arearranged in a same layer. 3: The display device with a touch detectiondevice according to claim 1, wherein a pitch between the metal wiresadjacent to each other in the first direction is integer multiple of apitch between the mutually adjacent display elements. 4: The displaydevice with a touch detection device according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of touch detection electrodes are coupled to a touch detectioncircuit to detect an external approaching object. 5: The display devicewith a touch detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:a plurality of dummy electrodes that are electrically floating anddisposed along the touch detection electrodes, wherein each of the dummyelectrodes includes at least one metal wire between the display elementsadjacent to each other, the dummy electrodes each extending along theplurality of signal lines. 6: The display device with a touch detectiondevice according to claim 5, wherein the touch detection electrodes andthe dummy electrodes are disposed on a same layer 7: The display devicewith a touch detection device according to claim 1, wherein the touchdetection electrodes are transparent electrodes. 8: The display devicewith a touch detection device according to claim 5, wherein the dummyelectrodes and the touch detection electrodes are transparentelectrodes.